#bianca shut up nobody cares

[caitlynskitten]

mmmmmmmmm

Anyway, here I go again lol

Wednesday isn't soft, never was, and never dreamed herself to be so. Nobody could change that, many tried to and they all met either a swift end or were forced to change their identity, permanently. Wednesday is a razor-sharp edge and the rest of the world is just a whetstone that she is constantly sharpened against.

Well, at least she was. That knife's blade has slowly been dulled by a pair nobody could've imagined would be capable of such an impossible feat. A blonde, hyperenergetic werewolf and dark-haired, cocky-as-hell vampire. Ugh, there are undoubtedly some jealous perverts who would just love to take her place, Wednesday would happily rip them apart herself.

Somehow, some way, Enid and Yoko had managed to melt away those well-built walls around Wednesday's heart. Perhaps their personalities just mixed together into a recipe of acid, perfect for the task of exposing the kind girl inside, desperate for love and affection and desperate to show it to those she cares for. Either way, after giving herself to the two women, both body and heart, Wednesday wasn't quite the same anymore.

Typically, in public, nothing really appeared to change. At least, not to anyone who didn't know her well, her image of the terrifying Addams girl still well intact to the general school populous. But to her friends and family? Well, they could see the change, some of it. But only the wolf and vampire saw her, truly saw Wednesday. Whenever it was just the three of them, Wednesday held nothing back. She was touchy, needy, and even whiny when she was especially desperate for them, usually on harder days when the rest of the world got on her nerves.

Like today, for example. A group of werewolves thought it would be real funny to mess with her in small ways, all in build-up to some big show to humiliate the raven in front of the school. Thankfully, they never got the chance as Bianca, Nevermore's Queen B herself, caught wind of it and shut them down, hard. However, enough damage was done to Wednesday's social battery and she desperately needed her partners to bring her back to herself.

Returning to her dorm room, Wednesday sees the two waiting for her on her bed. Yoko and Enid quickly stand up just in time to catch the tiny seer in their shared embrace and less than a second later, they can feel their shirts dampen with tears as the body in their arms shakes subtly, tiny sobs wracking through her as the day's exhaustion catches up to her.

"Oh Wends, it's okay. They're not gonna bother you anymore, little raven. We've got you, Mommy and Daddy have you." Enid strokes Wednesday's hair softly, gently scratching her scalp the way she knows she loves. Meanwhile, Yoko guides them all slowly onto the bed and places Wednesday between her and Enid. Once they're all lying down, the vampire and wolf take their time to undress the raven and themselves, giving Wednesday the skin contact she desperately craves at the end of every day.

The rest of the afternoon and long into the night is spent like that, with Enid and Yoko holding Wednesday tight and whispering soft praises, telling her how much they love her and how proud they are of her until Wednesday finally slips softly into sleep.

End. <3

Oops, this was really long, didn't mean for that to happen... Anyway, I hope this is good fluff for my new favorite OT3. Also, I couldn't help myself, I had to slip in a little Mommy and Daddy in there, but it's not sexual in this context, just something to help Wednesday relax. Reminds her that she's safe, if Enid and Yoko ever refer to themselves that way, it means they're alone and Wednesday can let go.

Oh my god. Now this is the fluffiest fluff I’ve read of the three and I am LIVING for it 😭😭😭😭 Enid and Yoko comforting and reassuring their cute Raven after hard days is just *chefs kiss* Ugh it’s so cute it’s so adorable it’s so fluffy I love them together. I 1000% agree that these two are the reason Wednesday finally feels love and happiness and found two people she genuinely love and can be herself.

ALSO THE

“We’ve got you, Mommy and Daddy’s got you” OH MY GOD MY FUCKING HEART

MY FUCKING HEART

Sorry I just keep rereading that segment where the two of them comfort Wednesday and praise her for being such a good girl and a good girlfriend. And how much they love her. Ugh and the two of them sandwiching her as they all fall asleep together. Fuck I love these three they’re so cute.

Can’t stop thinking about these two praising their beautiful short girlfriend🥺🥺🥺

[marvelsage]

Wednesday & Wick

FOUR

“Wick! Hey Wick! Open up!” Pounding at your door disturbed you latest read. Annoyed you lay the book down and approach the door. Opening the slot in the door to see the Sheriff.

“What?”

“I need your statement-”

“I already gave my statement. Now what do you really want?”

“It would be better to discuss more in person.”

“You have a warrant?”

“No-”

*slam*

Leaning away from the door you listened as he gave up and returned to your book. Though your mind just read over the same line and after the sixth you gave up. You noted that you were late for your club meeting.

BEEP

On the way to the hive you notice Wednesday and ‘Rowan’ talking by Ms.Thorhills car. Approaching as they were about to drive away you step in front of the car.

“Oh my- Wick!” You smile and approach ‘Rowans’ window as it rolls down slowly, leaning down some.

“Leaving without saying goodbye. I’m hurt and here I thought we were friends, Ro.” Looking deep within his eyes as he tries to look away.

“I-I um sor-bye”

“Alls well, Rowan. Do keep in touch hmm.”

“Apologies, Ms. Thornhill, didn’t mean to scare you.” Standing straight, tapping the top of the car stepping back. As it drives off, Wednesday steps up beside you.

“What do you know?”

“I know what I know.” Stepping close to seem more ‘intimidating’ your demons hum in bliss at being so close to her aura.

“Care to share.”

“I’d have to care in order to share, wouldn’t I”

“I find you infuriating.”

“Never said I was nice.” Side stepping her, you set off.

GREEN HOUSE

Entering class last you scan the room for an open seat. There was a seat in the back corner you were going to sit in until Bianca called you over.

“You can sit over here.” You shrug and detour to her table.

“Wick, haven’t seen you very often lately.”

“You would if you took your eyes off Xavier.” A few snickers were heard before Xavier stole the show with his drawings. You look over as he tries to impress Wednesday with his ability. Silently laughing when all she does is slam her hand on it.

Class goes on as Wednesday and Bianca compete to see who knew the ghost orchid more. Spacing out as recent events circle your head repeatedly. Suddenly everyone’s standing and leaving the class.

“Wick, please stay back for a moment.” Reluctantly you sit back down, and wait for everyone to leave.

“You’ve been spacing out a lot, Wick. Is there anything you’d like to talk about? You know I’m always here.”

“No I’m alright.”

“Does it have to do with Rowan leaving? I know you two were pretty close. You must miss him very much.”

“I guess so but I’ll always have a piece of him with me.” You smirk internally as you pat the chest pocket of your vest. The conversation ended shortly and she dismissed you soon after.

BEEHIVE

You had just finished checking the last of your assigned section when Wednesday and Enid had appeared. You entered the shed after giving them a few minutes. Swinging the door open, you were met with Enid in a bee suit, Eugene showcasing a honey jar, and Wednesday with a knife raised.

“Relax, Chucky it’s just me. What the hell are you doing now?” Letting the door slam shut as you pull off the net from your head. Unzipping the jumper halfway and letting the rest hang off your waist.

Turning around, you lean back against a one of the tables with your arms crossed. Taking note of Enids slight blush and Wednesday discreetly checking you out.

“It’s none of your concern. Shouldn’t you be putting hearts into dolls.”

“Shouldn’t you be taking hearts out of dolls.” Smiling sarcastically back as she goes over her plan with Enid and Eugene.

“Wait. Enid is supposed to decoy you? Huh”

“What.”

“I’m sorry but if Principle Weems can’t see the blonde with pink and purple highlights through the net I’d be more impressed.” Glaring at you as you stand to change in the hidden closet of the shed.

“Nobody asked.”

“You quiet literally did 30 seconds ago.” Strutting out the closet, making sure your uniform was straightened out. You decided on the ‘boys’ version of the uniform today, with a customized corset to go with.

“Let’s go.” It took Wednesday a moment to follow as she caught up on the fact that you had invited yourself along.

“What are you doing?”

“Coming along. I’m not letting you go alone after what happened that night.” Stepping over certain parts of the ground to lessen the amount of noise.

“I don’t need-”

“My help, we’re not friends, blah blah blah yeah I got it, darling. Watch your head.” Holding a branch high enough for her to walk under which didn’t take much.

You hear him before you see him as suddenly Wednesdays yanked out of sight. Leaping up into the tree next to you, masking your scent as the sheriff walks pass. Sniffing the air to make sure that was it you step off from the branch you were on and land gracefully between Wednesday and Tyler.

“Whoa, Wick.”

“Tyler.” Tilting your head in greeting before turning around to Wednesday. Checking her over unknowingly stepping closer to her to make sure she was unharmed.

“I’m fine.” You hold her gaze and see truth until Tyler clears his throat. Snarling ‘unintentionally’ at him, he raises his hands in show of no harm.

“Sorry force of habit.” Moving on from the situation you let them have their talk and tune them out as the whispers start up again. The same ones that happened the night of the festival and they seemed to be coming from a certain area. You spot something on the ground at the same time Wednesday does.

“I was right.” She goes to pick up the glasses- Rowan’s glasses when she’s snapped into a vision. Tyler rushed forward to hold her up as you stumble back from the force of something unknown that caused your nose to bleed a little.

‘what the f*ck’

DORM

Finishing up getting everything ready for tonight a knock on your door stops you. Opening it you saw no one but heard little thuds, you look down and smirk.

“Hello, Thing. It’s been quiet a while since I’ve seen you.” Letting him in you wait as he climbs up your work table and let’s you in on the plan Wednesday had in mind for the Poe cup.

“Hmmm nice I like it.” You both brainstorm on ideas like old times and catch up briefly before you decided to end the night.

POE CUP

“What’s wrong?” Wednesday asked as Enid has another panic attack right before the game.

“We’re down another person!And now we’re going to have to forfeit! Oh my gosh!”

“How is that possible?” Rapid thudding caught their attention as Thing motioned to the entrance of their tent. Right on time for you to strut out of it with the matching uniform, though yours didn’t have long sleeves, filling it out nicely.

“Hope you don’t mind, Enid but I need full range of my arms for today.” Coming up beside them as Enid squeals of happiness and jumps on you thanking you repeatedly. She set off to the boat after, leaving you with Wednesday who had yet to say anything.

“What did you do?”

“Well you look lovely as well, darling.” Her glare doesn’t waver and you inch your head to thing.

“That’s for me and thing to worry about.”

“Didn’t know you two were friends.” Nudging her chin lightly with your knuckle to meet her gaze.

“Don’t worry, you’re still my number one.”

“I didn’t know you had tattoos.” Shifting your arm to fully show it.

“Oh yeah family heirlooms and stuff like that. Come one we got a race to win.”

BANG!

And your off, your enhanced strength along with Enids helped to speed up the rowing. Dodging the others tactics easily and making it across. Wednesday went ahead to get the flag as the rest of you stayed to make sure nothing happened to the boat.

“Hey thing, now.” Thing distracts the other team and you motion to Enid to claw their boat. By the time Wednesday came back the others had started to leave already.

“Your alright?”

“Fine. Let’s go.” This time you were at the back of the boat and used a bit more of your strength to catch up to Bianca’s team. Passing the jokers as they sink, waving to Xavier on the way and laugh.

“Thing! I think flounder needs a hand.” With the help of thing and your last use of reinforcements, your team made it to the finish line in first place.

“We did it!” High fiving a few people along the way as everyone celebrated.

THE QUAD

You were tired from todays events as Principle Weems went on about your teams victory. Drifting away from the group you come across the Wednesday sitting at the foot of one of the many statues.

“You alright?”

“Why do you always insist on checking on me?” Sitting down beside her you sigh.

“Cause whether you like it or not, I’d like to think we’ve come to be partners in crime. Don’t you think?”

“I don’t” She tilts her head up the slightest bit once again lessening the distance between one another.

“What are you guys doing down here?” She backs away as Enid appears at the entrance of the hall. Wednesday explains how she didn’t like how everyone was staring at her.

“Leaving. I’m tired, I’ll see you guys later.”

“Oh well good night, Wick. Thanks for stepping up today.” Sparing Wednesday a glance between her and the statue.

“No problem, Enid.” Saluting her just before you turn the corner.

Wednesday

“So what was that about?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh come on everyone can totally see the romantic tension between you too.” Wiggling her fingers at tension and at that Wednesdays face twitch just the slightest.

“Romantic? Never. Tension? Quiet irritably. Mention this to anyone and your pig stuffy is getting decapitated.”

“Got it…”

sorry if your tag didn’t work out. also for taking a while I decided to make this part just a bit more lengthy. hope you all enjoy:)

@official-clint-barton @smolgayhooman @elduster @dreifhraniquo29 @lonelylesbian @coralbirdstudent @marice23top @dragonfly358@n0p35 @1-800-depressedlesbian @darlingtwice @e-dollly @gengen64 @mrchiipchrome @frogtits1 @bubbabobabubbles

[smartycvnt]

Choices

Title: Choices

Pairing: Bianca x Reader

Word Count: 1099

Y/n knew what the cars parked on the street were for. She had recently moved back to her home village in Italy afer running away nearly 20 years ago. Bianca had been the Don's right hand woman, which should have painted a large target on her back, but Y/n knew better than to expect her to be dead.

The Don cared for Bianca better than he had some of his blood. He treated Bianca like his daughter, and for a time, that had been extended to Y/n. She hadn't waited around the village to see what would happen to her after their breakup. More important people had been knocked off for less, and Y/n wasn't going to take those chances.

"Wait outside," Y/n heard Bianca say through the door. It was always cracked or partially open, but when Bianca entered Y/n's store, she shut it completely. The two women stood alone in the establishment staring each other down in silence for several minutes before Y/n spoke up.

"What the hell do you think you are doing here? I have a strict no mafia policy," Y/n told her. Bianca wouldn't have taken such hostility from just anybody, but she believed it was warranted for Y/n. Y/n could have pulled a gun on her, and Bianca wouldn't have put up a fight.

"It's been a long time," Bianca said.

"Not long enough," Y/n scoffed. Bianca crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at Y/n. It had been two decades since their falling out, but nobody had ever held a grudge like Y/n. Bianca cautiously took a step towards the counter that Y/n was standing behind. "Why have you come here, Bianca?"

"Because I wanted to see you. I wanted to make sure that you've been good to yourself in the ways that I wasn't. I've missed you, Y/n." It was rare for Bianca to put her heart on the line like that with any amount of honesty behind it, but Y/n knew that Bianca wasn't trying to pull anything. Still, it was hard to even begin to think about forgiving her. Bianca had made her choice, and Y/n wasn't it.

"I took some time away, but I think I started to undo the harm you had caused," Y/n told her. Bianca's face fell for a moment, but she was quick to hide it.

"You have always been a little cruel," Bianca noted.

"I didn't say that to be mean. I never said or did anything like that to you, and you're a goddamn liar if you say otherwise." Y/n took a step back to try and cool off, but it was difficult with Bianca standing right across from her. Bianca had always been a very heated topic for Y/n, even before they had broken up. Back then, however, all of Y/n's intensity had been her desire and passion for the woman burning hot.

"I know. I made a choice that I am still paying for. If you only let me say one more thing, let it be that it wasn't worth losing you," Bianca said. Y/n clenched her jaw as Bianca's words hit her like a punch to the gut. Twenty years Y/n had waited to hear Bianca say that, but it didn't feel nearly as good as she had hoped it would.

"Get out. Get out!" Y/n shouted. Bianca flinched and complied with Y/n's order. Y/n sat down on the stool behind the counter as she tried to calm her heart. It felt worse to be alone with her feelings and newfound knowledge than it had to be there with Bianca. Y/n grit her teeth and tried to move on, but Bianca's words echoed in the back of her head for weeks with no end in sight.

Y/n felt like she was losing the last shreds of her sanity. It was not an easy decision to go see Bianca after everything, but it was a choice that Y/n felt she had to make. She needed to forgive Bianca and accept whatever that meant for them moving forward. From what Y/n had heard, Bianca had never really even tried to settle down after Y/n left. There had been a good line of lovers that would leave Bianca's little guest house at the villa over the years, but nobody ever stayed more than a couple of nights.

"It's been a long time since I've been here," Y/n said as she walked around the villa with Bianca. The woman had been in the vineyard where the grapes were being harvested. Y/n had been surprised when Bianca welcomed her presence with open arms, especially after how hostile Y/n had been earlier.

"Things have changed for the better. Kristen is a great leader," Bianca said. Their conversation felt safe and casual, but all wrong to Y/n. "I am surprised that you've come all this way. I thought you'd never come back here after what happened."

"You made your own choice that day like I have made a choice today. Bianca, I have spent too long being angry with you for that, and I am done. It's exhausting, and I'd just like to live the rest of my life in peace. So, I came here today to tell you that you are forgiven," Y/n said. Bianca clutched her chest as she looked at Y/n. It was surprising to say the very least.

"Thank you for your forgiveness. I know that wasn't easy for you, and I want you to know that I still hold love for you. I will always hold a special place in my heart for you. You are the first person outside of my family that I have ever truly loved," Bianca admitted. It was the only thing that Y/n had wanted to hear for years. She was overcome with emotions and her next actions were rash to say the least. Y/n stopped walking and turned to grab the collar of Bianca's shirt. Bianca knew what she was going for immediately and pressed forward to close the distance between the two of them.

"This doesn't mean that you are back in my good graces," Y/n said as she broke the kiss. Bianca nodded as she leaned in for another kiss, which Y/n happily granted her.

"I will do everything I can to earn your love back," Bianca promised Y/n.

[negaiishipping]

Negaishipping: "Speak Now"

art: @moonxpalace 💗

All of Iris' friends know she's in love with Ash. She's straightforward with many things, not with this, though. So when she sudenly gets an invitation for Ash's wedding, they all ask her "are you gonna speak now?".

PART 1

Even though they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Iris still loved Ash romantically- that was probably the only thing she'd shut up about for the rest of her life. Or so she thought.

One day, she received a letter from him. This wasn't unusual, since they wrote to each other all the time. What was unusual, was the content of said letter.  "Ash and ... would be delighted if Iris joined them to celebrate their marriage at..." That was enough for her to stop reading. She started laughing, because that had to be a joke, right?

 Of course, everyone else received invitations as well. The Striaton brothers, Bianca, Trip, Stephan, Luke, Burgundy, Georgia... They were all worried for Iris, even Georgia. They tried to call her but she wouldn't answer the phone, she wouldn't open the door, she didn't want to talk to anyone.

The pokémon were worried for their trainer too. Excadrill had had enough, so in one of those unsuccessful visits, he opened the door himself.

 "Hey, are you gonna speak now?" Georgia asked.

"I'll play guitar", Bianca added.

PART 2

art: @moonxpalace 💜

The Unova group had travelled to Kanto for the wedding day... except for Iris. She had stayed at home with Drayden, training.

Before the event started, they all went to greet and congratulate the groom, who looked disappointed... when he didn't see "his best friend" there. And everyone had the same question on mind, but nobody wanted to ask. "Why her? Why not Iris?".

 "I didn't even know you and ... were a couple" Cilan quickly said. He was immensely proud of his friend, however, this all had a bitter taste.

"Mhm, yeah..." Ash brushed it off like he didn't care.

"You do realize you're getting married, right?".

"Yeah!", he laughed, "I'm just so nervous!".

Meanwhile, in Opelucid City, Iris started to regret her decision. Was she being mean or selfish? Whether she loved Ash romantically or not, this was still her friend and it was such an important day for him.

PART 3

... Iris arrived just in time, all thanks to Dragonite! She sneaked in and saw her friends, Ash's friends, and the bride. She hid in the curtains. Now what? She felt embarrassed and didn't really want to be seen.

We are gathered here today, to join together Ash Ketchum and ... in holy matrimony...

A tear rolled down Iris' face. She was there, at the wedding of the person she loved- not even as a proper guest, just spying.

What if the bride was her? Everything would be better. This was her last chance...

These two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if anyone can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

"I object!". The girl with long, wild hair covered her mouth immediatly. She realized that what she just had done was bad, but she couldn't stop now. "I object because I love you, Ash! Don't say yes!".

The room was in complete silence. People looked at Iris, horrified, but she was only looking at Ash.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry everyone that you have to see this", she grabbed her purple dress tightly, "but please, please don't say yes".

A few people though, were trying to hold back their happy giggles, of course. Bianca, Georgia, Burgundy, even Cilan...

Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and placed himself on Iris'. "Pika", he said nodding his head, as an "I agree".

"Thanks, Pikachu, it was nice seeing you. I guess I need to go now", she whispered before running away from the place.

Everyone was shocked. The bride glanced at Ash with disgust, like asking him "who was she?". He couldn't respond, all he could do was look her in the eyes and say "sorry" with them.

He quickly winked at Pikachu, who was still near the entrance after Iris had left; what that wink meant was "electrocute everyone". And in the confusion and shock, he ran off, leaving a very messy scene behind.

Outside the church, Ash ran and ran, trying to find the girl who interrupted his wedding. "Iris? Iris! I need to talk! I feel the same way!".

Still in high heels and a dress, she jumped off a tree. "Yes?".

"I didn't say yes", he whispered, smiling, getting another smile from her in return. He grabbed her hand, "it's always been you".

Iris wasn't the kind of girl to rudely barge in on a white veil ocassion. However, why would the boy he loved be in that kind of situation in the first place?

GUYS AAAAAAAAA, I think everyone knows that Speak Now is my favourite TS album and the re-recording is the best thing that's ever been mine !!! So I tried to write a short Negaishipping fanfic, imagining them in this kind of situation. I am so nervous jskdjkdj, it's been a long time since I wrote fanfics or stories, so sorry if it's bad. Btw I refer to the bride as "..." LMAO because I didn't know who could it be!! I was thinking of Serena but idk 😭 imagine if her fans see this and they all come at me aaaaa anyway bye I hope you liked it jskdj BYE

[voraciousvore]

Big Corp Inc. (3/43)

Chapter 3: First Day

Candy left for her new job early the next morning, so she would have plenty of time to commute. Like before, the railway station was deserted. She boarded one of the high-tech railcars and sat in a seat within as it sped along. She was nervous, but appreciated the novelty of the remarkably oversized scenery. She had to admit, seeing such large beings so similar to humans was fascinating and astounding, if not outright petrifying. 

All too soon, the railcar reached her stop, outside the gigantic Big Corp building. Candy exited the car, into the fresh morning air, and gazed nervously at the pathway that cut through the vast sidewalk. The foot traffic for the Giants was busier with all the morning commuters, causing earthquakes and making the crossing all the more intimidating. 

Candy knew she had to be brave, so she buried her fears and forced her body to move forward. She couldn’t run in her high-heeled shoes, so she hobbled forward clumsily with all the haste she could muster, blocking out the immense behemoths stepping over her, until she reached the other side. 

She only had a brief second to catch her breath before she had to move out of the way of the colossal sliding doors as Giants clomped through them. She scurried inside and clung to the inner wall, finding her familiar safe spot behind the potted tree. The building within did not have designated lanes for humans to safely walk, so she was aware she needed to be extremely careful. 

Candy wanted to find the human elevator that Bianca had mentioned, but she didn’t know where to even begin looking. The lobby was massive; it would take her hours to search the space. While she scanned the room with her eyes, she made her way over to the Giant elevator, hugging the wall the entire time. When she reached it, she had to duck out of the way as the monstrous metal doors opened and a stampede of shoes the size of large cars threatened to trample her. 

Heart pounding, she raced inside before the doors shut, avoiding the Giants entering the elevator at the same time. She squeezed into the corner and prayed nobody would notice her. Fortunately, her wish came true, as none of the Giants towering hundreds of feet above her bothered to look down. Candy was so petrified that she forgot to get off when the elevator opened on the third floor. The elevator went all the way up to the fifth floor, then the sixth floor, and Candy found herself alone and trapped as the remaining Giants disembarked, with the doors closing shut after them. 

She didn’t know what to do. For a minute, she was stuck inside the huge metal box. She had no hope of pressing the buttons herself so she had to wait, with only the insipid elevator music for company, until the elevator started to move back down on its own. It stopped on the fourth floor and a Giant came in, pressing the button for the first floor. She considered simply asking the Giant to press the button for her, but she couldn’t muster up the courage to say anything. The elevator descended and picked up more passengers, but to her dismay none of them stopped on the third floor. She found herself alone again for several minutes. 

Candy started to sweat. She was grateful that she had the foresight to leave early, so she wasn’t late for work yet, but if she continued to have bad luck she might be stuck in the elevator all day. To her relief, the elevator finally began to move again. She wouldn’t allow herself to be cowed into silence this time—at least, that’s what she assured herself. Her stomach was twisting up into knots at the thought of what she’d have to do. 

The elevator halted on the first floor, and the doors opened to permit ingress of another massive Giant. Candy gulped and craned her neck back to look up. To her surprise, she recognized the Giant as Mr. Hardon, her new boss. She gave a startled cough and he glanced down. His eyebrows raised and he smiled with delight. 

“Candy!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you here! Why didn’t you take the human elevator?” He bent down and snatched her up in his hand. Candy protested with a shrill cry. He ignored her and settled her into his open palm. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to being grabbed in such an invasive manner. 

“I-I didn’t know where it was… d-do you think you c-could show me? Please?” Candy stammered, trying and failing not to appear too flustered and scared. 

“Well, sure,” Mr. Hardon answered. He looked intently at her, bringing her in close to his immense face. “Then again…” Candy looked up at him with a pathetic, pleading look. He smirked. “I like meeting you like this, when you’re so helpless. Maybe I won’t tell you.” He chuckled and Candy’s face dropped as she realized he wasn’t going to help her. She opened her mouth to complain and he shook his hand purposely to make her lose her balance, then laughed at her. 

The Giant carried her into his office and closed the door. Candy felt sick as she recalled Bianca’s warning about being alone with her horny boss. In his office, there were no witnesses if he decided to have his way with her. 

“I’ll let you hang out in here while you complete your computer-based training. I can work on my laptop. We’ll have a great time, just you and me,” the boss uttered with a dirty leer. “Hell, if you want I’ll even let you sit in my lap!” 

“No thanks,” Candy groaned.  

Mr. Hardon wasn’t put off by her unenthusiastic response at all. “Oh, playing hard to get I see! Fair enough.” He winked at her, booted up his desktop computer, and opened the training module. Candy had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. The Giant set her on his desk in front of the computer, and pulled his own laptop out of his bag. She began watching the training videos while he scrolled through his emails. 

The videos were extremely boring and Candy found her eyes glazing over as she struggled to focus or even just stay awake. When Mr. Hardon finished perusing his emails, he switched over to phone calls and started chatting in a very obnoxious and distracting manner. The conversations didn’t sound work-related either: At one point, he jovially described one of his lewd sexual exploits in a story inappropriate enough to make innocent little Candy blush. Even worse, as he spoke he began to absently pet Candy on her head like she was an animal and prod her with his gigantic fingers. 

Candy was becoming more and more uncomfortable and irritable by the second. She wanted to spin around, smack his fingers away, and tell him off. However, she had to admit she was afraid of the Giant, with his impossible size, and what he was capable of. She also didn’t want to lose her job; she had already lost so many. So, she bit her tongue and continued to watch her training videos in silence.  

She gritted her teeth as he stroked down her shoulders with the tip of his index finger. He stopped at the small of her back, distracted by his phone conversation, and laughed heartily at a raunchy joke from his interlocutor. His Giant voice was loud and impossible to ignore. Candy scooted forward to get away from his touch, and for a moment he didn’t seem to notice as he was absorbed in his call. Regrettably, she couldn’t escape him entirely, being trapped on his desk. Before long, she felt his finger pressing down on the top of her head again, stroking her hair. 

Candy put up with this treatment for several hours. She felt humiliated and dehumanized, like she was just a pet rather than a person who deserved basic respect. Eventually, her boss wrapped up his phone calls and typed on his laptop for a while, an activity which mercifully required both his gigantic hands. Candy was able to focus a little on the training videos, although she didn’t feel like she was learning anything of value.  

Mr. Hardon unexpectedly got up from his desk and left the room, leaving Candy by herself. She sighed with relief at his absence, despite still being able to see him from afar patrolling around the Giant office, checking in on the employees as they toiled in their cubicles. She saw him slap one of the female employees on the butt as she walked past him. The Giantess glared at him savagely, but he was unbothered and undeterred. Candy was appalled by this behavior. How was he able to get away with his inappropriate actions? Didn’t this company have an HR department? Candy could only assume Giant workplaces must be structured differently. She would have to watch her back. 

Her boss disappeared for a while and came back later with a hot lunch. Candy had been so worried about getting to her new job, she had completely forgotten to pack herself a meal for the day. She had skipped breakfast too, as was her usual habit. He had a tupperware full of leftover pot roast, and the delicious smell prompted Candy’s belly to whine for food. Mr. Hardon heard the tiny sound and raised an eyebrow. 

“Oh, did you forget to bring a lunch today?” he asked. Candy sighed and nodded. “Would you like some of mine? I doubt you’d eat much anyways, since you’re bite-sized yourself.” 

Candy hesitated, sensing a trap, but replied, “That… would be nice, yes.” 

Mr. Hardon slowly curled his lips into an evil grin. “Of course you know, if I share my food with you, I’ll expect something in return.” He stroked the side of her face with his massive finger. 

Candy’s stomach dropped. “Never mind,” she mumbled and quickly turned away, hunching her shoulders. Candy didn’t see her boss’s expression darken, but the shadow of a scowl disappeared as soon as it had come. He ate his meal, chewing pensively on his fork, and watched her with interest while she huddled on his desk facing the computer. When he was done eating, he stood up and walked out again to harass some of the other employees. 

Candy finished the last training module, but there was a short multiple-choice test at the end. She struggled to use the giant mouse to click the answers. She had to throw her weight on it and push it with her whole body to move it, then push with both arms to click the button. Admittedly, Candy wasn’t the brightest, and she hadn’t been able to focus for most of the training, so she failed the test the first time. She had the option to retest and managed to barely pass the second time with 72% correct answers. 

Just as she sat down next to the oversized mouse to catch her breath, Mr. Hardon came strolling in to check in on her. “72%? Ha, I knew you were a dumb blonde!” he teased, poking her with his finger. She winced. After putting up with his insufferable torment all day, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. 

“It’s about the end of the day today, so you finished at a good time. Most of the other employees have already left,” her boss remarked. “Come back here same time tomorrow, and I’ll set you up at your desk and show you what you’ll be doing for work.” As he spoke, he packed up his stuff and stuck his laptop in his work bag. “See ya.” He started to lumber off. 

“Wait!” Candy shouted. Mr. Hardon looked back over his shoulder. “Aren’t you going to let me down?” 

“Oh. Right,” he said, and reached his enormous hand towards her. Candy cringed as he grabbed her and placed her on the floor outside his office. “I’ll expect you here tomorrow,” he commanded, then ambled away, his receding footsteps vibrating the floor beneath Candy’s feet. She was a bit shaken from being grabbed again, so she stood dumbly and stared after him as he left her behind. It was only after she recovered and he was gone that Candy realized she still needed a Giant to operate the elevator again, unless she could locate the human elevator. She let out a heavy sigh and trudged onward. 

Chapter 4

First Chapter

[artificialqueens]

🏳️‍🌈 Galactica, Chapter 108 (Group Fic) - TheDane/Veronica

A/N: Click here if you’re looking for previous chapters (or here if you’d rather read on AO3). 💫

Previously: Bianca fired Raven from a Marie Claire photoshoot for talking shit about Courtney. Aurora was called in as a pinch-hitter when Raja rejected Violet’s Met Gala pitches. The Galactica Fashion Week Show went off beautifully. 

This Chapter: Raven throws a tantrum, and Aurora steps up to the plate.

***

“…So then I stepped into the light, and I swear I could hear a pin drop in the room. It was like…even more than a gasp. Just the entire crown taking this collective breath and holding it until I put my first foot forward,” Raven said, eyes sparkling. 

“Mmhmm.” Juju nodded, sipping her decaf latte and glancing quickly at her phone. Meeting Raven for coffee before work was always risky. She wanted to catch up with her friend, of course, but Raven tended to let time get away from her, not quite realizing that Juju’s schedule was a bit less flexible than her own. Luckily, she was too deep in her own story to notice Juju’s split-second distraction from her recap.

“Then, as I began to walk the runway, they all slowly exhaled, still not making a sound, every single pair of eyes on me. It was just absolutely exhilarating.” 

“Sounds like it!” 

“I wish you were there,” Raven pouted. 

“Me too,” Juju said. “But this week is big money for me. It basically paid Kelly’s tuition this spring.”

“Get them coins, Mama.” 

“You know it. And De was there repping the family. Although I’m not sure how much good that did. He said that Fame nearly took off his head for mentioning Bianca in front of the Vogue reporter.” 

“With good reason!” Raven exclaimed, shaking her head. “What possessed him to nearly ruin a lovely evening by bringing up that cunt’s name-”

“Raven.”

“What?! Don’t fucking tell me you’re still staying neutral, Juju.”

“I am, and you know this; I’ve said all along that I’m not taking sides-” Juju could feel her ears heating up, her stomach twisting as Raven’s eyes grew cold. She knew this already, why was she acting like this was new information?

“No! I knew you weren’t taking sides when it was about her and Fame and their petty bullshit. When it was about Bianca fucking some nobody assistant who she’s gonna get bored of in a month, leaving some dumb dinner early, whatever else Fame was salty about. Blah blah, we all know they’ll make up as soon as Bianca ditches the prosti-tot. Hashtag who cares.” 

Juju rolled her eyes. “Your compassion is-”

“Shut up, you know what I mean. This is not about that anymore! I don’t care about that. She fired me, Juju. Fired me, in front of a bunch of fucking people!” 

“I know, Rave, but-” 

“Did you just say ‘but’?” Raven looked like she could murder Juju in cold blood. This was getting extremely out of hand. 

“Look, I know how horrible that was, I’m not denying that or arguing with you. What I’m thinking about is what a fucking bummer it is when a group of friends is fractured. Maybe I’m being selfish. Because I hate this. I hated the last time it happened, with Jinkx. You weren’t around then, but…I just want this to get solved because…” Juju took a deep breath. “Rave, you can’t imagine how quickly weeks turn into months, and months turn into years. You know?” 

Juju bit her lip, hoping that Raven would understand. She wasn’t sure she did, since Raven was still glaring at her. 

“What?” she asked tentatively, aware she might be opening up another whole can of worms. 

“How can you even think to talk to me about ‘solving things’ with that fucking cunt?! Where is your loyalty?” 

Juju sighed, closing her eyes. “Rave-” 

“No, because, I told you what happened,” Raven said, getting ready to launch into the saga once again, which Juju was not looking forward to in the slightest. “She humiliated me for no reason, out of pure spite-”

“Okay-” 

“All I said was some totally benign things about what her dumb sugar baby was wearing, or something, I don’t even remember because they were such like, random throwaway comments-” 

“Rave-” 

Of course, Juju had dragged the story out of Bianca, too, because Raven’s version seemed…incomplete, to say the least. Juju loved her friend, but an innocent victim she was not. And Bianca’s version, as expected, was completely different. At first, she acted like it was no big deal, something that was over and done with. A simple case of Raven being unprofessional and that was that. Holding a grudge? Not the great Bianca Del Rio! But as she told the story, it became pretty clear how hurt and angry she was over the whole incident as well. 

Juju was pretty sure the truth was somewhere in between their two stories, as usual. 

“And she totally lost it, screaming in my face and throwing her weight around like some big shot to show off to her stupid girlfriend! Plus, she totally intimidated the Galactica staff into going along with it since none of them ranked high enough to stand up to her-”

“Rave, please-” This part about intimidating the Galactica staff was new. It seemed that, true to Raven fashion, the story was growing more and more elaborate each time she told it. Some people’s anger faded over time, but Raven’s seemed to grow, strengthened by the myths that she told herself to fuel the rage.

“She literally had security throw me out of the building!” Raven said, her voice shrill now, attracting attention from some of the others, which was the last thing Juju wanted, “Like I probably had bruises on my arm where-”

“Raven! Stop!” 

Raven finally stopped talking, her face a picture of betrayal as she stared at Juju, aghast. 

“I…I’m sorry. I know it was awful for you, and I hate that it happened, but I can’t listen to this story anymore-” 

“Are you fucking serious-”

“Yeah! Yeah, I am, because I love you, I love you so much, but every time you tell it, it gets more and more over the top, and I’m not gonna sit here and pretend to hate one of my oldest friends just because your idea of loyalty is an ass-kisser who smiles and nods at you. That’s not me, it never has been, and-”

Raven stood up, practically knocking her chair over in the process, snatching up her things and tossing her fur wrap over her shoulder. 

“Get fucked, Juju,” she hissed, before turning on her heel and flouncing away. 

Juju sighed, putting her head in her hands. This was absolutely not how she planned to begin her day. Her phone began to buzz, and she answered, the twinge of a migraine beginning behind her left eye. 

“Hey.” 

“Hola!” chirped a sunny voice. Their new receptionist, who’d been pretty good so far. She was recommended for the job by Adore, of all people. Something about a friend of a cousin, or cousin of a friend, or cousin of a cousin. She wasn’t quite sure, but the girl was cheerful, pretty, and so far seemed competent. “Mrs. Drescher wants to know if she can come in at 10:15 instead of 10:45. Since she’s your first, I thought-”

Juju glanced at the clock. It would be tight, but she could make it. She reached into her bag for some Imitrex and said, “Tell her I’m on the way in and I’ll do my best, but it might be 10:20.” 

“Will do! Gracias!” 

Juju popped the pill into her mouth and swallowed it down with her latte. Before she left, she made sure to slip an extra $100 to the baristas. It wouldn’t guarantee their silence about any part of the tiff between her and Raven that they’d potentially overheard, but it might make them feel a bit less inclined to talk to the media. And Juju could be annoyed at Raven without wanting a story about a supermodel meltdown in a coffee shop to start circulating. 

***

Aurora stood next to the rolling rack, a large portfolio folder under her arm, her heart beating so fast and loud, she may as well have been in an off license with a fake ID instead of outside Raja Gemini’s office, waiting to present her Met Gala looks. 

She had nearly shit herself with fear when Trixie told her she’d be presenting alone, since he was out all morning and Raja had limited time in the office before leaving for London. 

“You’ll be great,” he’d assured her, “And don’t worry. It’s not a formal presentation. Just show her what you have and take note of everything she says. You’re not expected to talk unless she asks you direct questions.” 

‘Not talking�� had never exactly been Aurora’s biggest strength. Great. Fucking great. 

Now, here she was, in the explosion of green and warmth that was Raja’s office suite, surrounded by plants and rich fabrics and vibrant colors, the whole thing screaming that here worked someone who was absolutely crystal clear on what their aesthetic was, and if Aurora failed, then what would her future be at this company? 

She’d been in the same room with Raja a handful of times since she’d begun, but she’d never spoken directly to her, and the idea of having to do that, by herself, when one of the other designer’s ideas had already been ripped to very public and humiliating shreds was making her feel like she might faint. What gave her the fucking audacity to think she could do this when someone more experienced had already failed? 

Raja would take one look at her work and know immediately that hiring her was a mistake, that she didn’t belong, that she was-

“You can go inside now.” 

Aurora jumped slightly, rescued by the spiral of her own self doubt by Ivy’s voice, as Raja’s assistant came out of her office, leaving the door open behind her. 

“And don’t be nervous,” Ivy said, with a warm smile. “She’s got her tea and she’s ready.” 

Aurora nodded gratefully and pushed the rack inside, a bit startled to see that Raja wasn’t at her desk, but instead in the sitting area, on a plush chair covered in intricately embroidered fabric, a velvet pillow under her elbow. 

“Um, good morning. I’m Aurora, and-” 

“Good morning,” Raja said, a slight note of confusion in her voice, one eyebrow raising just slightly. “I thought you were going to show me sketches?” 

“Oh. oh, yes, I do have sketches,” Aurora said. She swallowed, fumbling to open the folder, pulling out the sketches. “I just, um, I thought maybe you would like to see some samples as well, so I made a few…these are-” 

Raja held out a hand to reach for the sketches and Aurora bit her lip, remembering the part about not talking unless you were answering a question. 

She shifted nervously, watching as Raja looked through the sketches, twirling a bit of her long hair around her finger, her beautiful face giving nothing away.

Ever so often, she would lift one of the pages to examine something closer, or make the smallest “hmm” sound. 

Aurora was dying to know what she thought. Love? Hate? Lukewarm indifference? 

Her one ray of hope, in this moment, was that, if everything was truly garbage, Raja would surely have thrown her out already, right? 

“Alright…” Raja stood up, suddenly even more imposing in her fitted jumpsuit, her long limbs and slender frame making it look elegant and severe. “Let’s see those samples.” 

“Right! Certainly…” Aurora gulped and turned around, pulling some items from the rack. “So, this is the jacket. I wasn’t sure whether you were looking for a pant or a dress, so I have two different looks that could potentially go underneath. I thought the black snakeskin could be-”

“Mmhmm…”

Aurora promptly clamped her mouth shut as Raja took the jacket from the rack, examining the sleeve, turning it inside out to look at the seams. 

“I, uh, I know the stitching isn’t perfect, but it’s just a sample, that would obviously be fixed in a real-” 

“How long did you spend making this jacket?” Raja asked, turning towards her. 

“Uh, about, um, six…six hours? That was, um, the actual sewing. But, I, um-” 

“Hmm,” Raja turned back to the rack. 

Aurora took another breath, slowly, as she pawed through the sample pieces, taking a closer look at some of them, even going back to the sketches to compare. Aurora’s head was swimming, and she started to get a bit dizzy. 

Stay calm, you motherfucking idiot. Do not faint in front of Raja Gemini.

“Ready for notes?” 

“What?” Aurora blinked at her like an idiot before her mind fully processed what Raja had said and she quickly shouted, “Yes!”

Raja took a small step back.

Oh my god did you just yell in Raja Gemini’s face? What the fuck is wrong with you?

“I mean, sorry, yes. I’m ready.” She pulled out the notepad and pen from her folder and sat primly at the edge of a royal purple velvet sofa. 

“Wonderful. The jacket has potential, but only as a concept, so we need changes. The sleeves should be shorter, three quarters, and the collar needs drama. For fabrics, give me a richer, deeper red. Something stiff, with structure. Perhaps an upholstery fabric? Obviously lined, even if this is a sample.”

Aurora nodded, scribbling vigorously to keep up. 

“The lining could be an opportunity.” Raja pulled the jacket open, looking at herself in the mirror for a second. “Explore Oriental silks and get back to me with a selection. Galactica’s ignoring the theme this year for the most part, but it never hurts to throw Ms. Wintour a bone.” 

She smiled, and Aurora stifled a laugh, not at all imagining that Raja Gemini would be making jokes. 

“This length is awkward. Re-imagine it as a formal duster with a big sweeping train, and before you spend another work day making samples, sketches do exist, and for a reason.”

“Yes ma’am.” Aurora could barely believe her ears. These notes felt…very minor. Of course she knew from the beginning that the sample fabric was just that - sample fabric. So that was Shortening a sleeve. A more dramatic collar. Adding a train?

“As far as what goes underneath, this pant is the most intriguing to me. And these ankle boots…what made you bring shoes, anyway?”

“M-Maxwell told me you’d expect a fully realized look, so I thought-”

“Ah. Well, yes, good advice. I agree with you about the snakeskin on the pants. It’s cool, the detailing on the sides is great, I like the high waist… But…” she squinted, tilting her head. 

Aurora waited, pen poised while Raja scrutinized the pants. 

“What do you think of a boot cut?”

“Absolutely not,” Aurora stated, before she could stop herself, then looked up with alarm, expecting an angry glare. 

Instead, she was grinning, her dark eyes dancing with laughter. 

“I’m sorry. I…of course I’ll do whatever you want,” Aurora stammered out. 

“Yes, well…perhaps we can forgo a boot cut for now,” she said. “And I’d like to go back to the drawing board in terms of tops. Everything here is too busy, too much going on. We need to streamline.” 

“Got it.” 

“I’d like you to pull some alternate fabrics for the jackets, and then I’d really like to see how these pants look.” Raja pressed a button on her phone’s intercom, “Ivy, can you come in for a moment?”

“Of course!” Seconds later, Ivy sailed through the door. “Yes?” 

“I want to schedule a fitting with Aurora for tomorrow, before I leave. Can we squeeze it in?”

“Um…yes, I think so. Depending on what time that New York Women’s Foundation luncheon ends, we can maybe say 3?”

“The luncheon where Gwenyth is the keynote speaker?” Raja asked. 

“Yes.” 

“Please. I would love an excuse to leave early,” Raja said. “Pencil it in for 2:30.” 

“You got it!” Ivy grinned. 

Raja turned back to Aurora. “I’d like to see some more fabric samples for the jacket, with a few revised sketches, and I want to see the pants on to get an idea of what they look like. I’ll be able to give you much better notes after that.” 

“That sounds perfect!” Aurora said. She still couldn’t believe that any of this was happening. Raja Gemini liked her design. Raja Gemini was going to wear her design to the Met Gala. It was insane, if she actually thought about it. 

“Some concepts for a new top would be appreciated as well,” Raja said, walking back to her desk and sitting down. She opened up a file folder and began to read the contents, her attention now on something else entirely. 

Aurora took that as a cue to mean that she was finished, so nodded and began to put all of the garments back onto hangers as quickly as possible. She couldn’t wait to get back downstairs to report the great news to the others, who had all been teasing her, assuring her that Raja would probably hate everything in the first round and not to feel too bad about it. 

As she was pushing the rack towards the door, Raja looked up from her desk and called out, “Aurora!” 

“Yes?”

“Great work this week. Thanks a lot.” 

“Thank you so much!” Aurora said, a grin spreading across her face that probably made her look like a grade-A twat. Okay, idiot, get out now before you burst into happy tears and snot all over Raja Gemini’s 4 million dollar rug. “Um…see you tomorrow!”

“Mmhm…” Raja smiled and went back to her paperwork. 

Aurora took that as a final goodbye, and bolted triumphantly towards the elevators. She couldn’t wait to report back to the rest of the designers with the news of her incredible success. 

***

Pride Challenge Points: 3081

[twinsizemattrcss]

rolling your own cigarettes. stick-and-poke tattoos. being late to bed and early to rise. detention as an extra-curricular. keeping a packed bag at the back of your closet. a white t-shirt with cuffed sleeves. an heirloom watch that’s long-since stopped. opening your parachute at the last possible moment. falling in with the wrong crowd. your childhood bedroom being converted into an office. burning bridges. knowing that nobody really cares what you do anymore.

statistics.

full name: isidore emiliano fiorello nicknames: izzy, iz, fiorello name meaning: gift of isis age: twenty-nine date of birth: april 10th star sign: aries place of birth: staten island, new york current location: east haven, vermont gender: cis-male pronouns: he/him sexual orientation: a very good question religion: catholic (lapsed) occupation: line cook at the sunny side up diner family: giovanni fiorello (father, deceased) bianca dawson (née lombardi, mother, estranged), robert dawson (step-father, estranged), stefanie dawson (sister, estranged), james dawson (half-brother, estranged), molly dawson (half-sister), arturo fiorello (paternal uncle, deceased) education level: high school drop-out living arrangements: lives in his uncle's old house in sutherland park financial status: poor

biography. (death tw, motor accident tw, abusive parent tw, homelessness tw, assault mention tw, prison tw)

Izzy's father died when he was eight years old, and it ripped his world apart. His mother, Bianca, coped very badly with the loss, and struggled to balance her grief with raising Izzy and his little sister, Stef, alone.

Only a year after his father passed, Bianca started dating somebody new. His name was Robert Dawson - he'd known both of Izzy's parents since high school, and had apparently always held something of a candle for his mother. Izzy hated him from the moment he laid eyes on him, but Robert was there to stay. He and Bianca were married by the time Izzy was ten, and the Fiorellos became the Dawsons, with only Izzy clinging to his father's name.

Time passed, and Izzy's relationship with his family deteriorated irreparably. Robert was a controlling, insecure man, and seemed determined to erase all traces of Izzy's real father from existence. Pictures began to disappear from around the house - even ones kept in the supposed privacy of Izzy's room - they lost contact with the Fiorello side of the family, and any attempts to talk about his father were firmly shut down. Izzy started getting into trouble at school, picking fights and skipping class, and it just exacerbated his home life all the more.

He was so angry, so full of grief, so alone. Izzy ran away from home eight times between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, and after getting suspended from high school again and the argument to end all arguments, he ran as far as Vermont, to a town he remembered from his childhood. He could only hope his uncle still lived in East Haven - and that he'd take him in, if he did.

Izzy lived with his Uncle Arturo for a year and a half. He tried to set Izzy back on a decent path, but his efforts went unrewarded - Izzy was too far gone, and he couldn't accept the help. Ultimately, he destroyed the last safe haven he had left, stealing a sizeable amount of cash from his uncle and suddenly vanishing from town without a word.

After that, Izzy bounced around along the east coast, going wherever the wind took him - he was young, resourceful, and could find friends when he needed them. He fell in with a bad crowd, the petty crimes he’d committed in high school became more serious, and it seemed there was no turning back. The things Izzy did didn’t make him happy, and they didn’t fix his problems (rather increased them tenfold), but he was resigned to his fate.

When he was twenty-two, Izzy's crimes caught up with him, and he was arrested. He was sentenced to ten years for breaking and entering, and aggravated assault against a police officer.

It would be wrong to say it was a wake up call, but it certainly put his sad excuse for a life into perspective. He’d fucked it up, let his uncle and his father's memory down, and enough was enough. Izzy kept his head down, immersing himself in audiobooks and his work detail in the prison kitchen, and waited for his opportunity to apply for parole.

While he was inside, his uncle passed away. Izzy’s application for compassionate leave to attend the funeral was denied, though a lawyer came to tell him that Arturo had left him his home in East Haven. It wasn’t much of a comfort, but when Izzy finally got a date for parole, that is where he told the judge he would go.

Izzy lost six years of his life to prison. He has no family to turn to, and no friends worth knowing. He’s been back in town for four months now, and it’s been an adjustment… but he’s trying. Nobody owes him a second chance, but he is trying.

other things.

He’s never been formally tested, but Izzy is almost certainly dyslexic.

That being said, he’s a huge audiobook fan, and is technically very well-read because he listened to a lot of the classics while he was in prison. His favourite novel is Frankenstein.

He’d rather talk on the phone than text. Hell, he’d rather learn morse code than text - if you text him, he’ll respond with a voice note nine times out of ten.

Izzy has a lot of tattoos. Many of them are shitty and faded now - stick-and-pokes he’d either done himself or had a friend do for him - but there are a couple of nice, professional ones in the mix.

You’ll never find Izzy at the diner on a Thursday. That’s the day he meets with his probation officer, which he has to travel to Montpelier for.

The only member of his family that Izzy has any kind of contact with is his half-sister, Molly. It’s funny, he’s been in jail a solid most of her life, but she’s the only one that ever bothered to write to him.

The watch Izzy wears belonged to his dad. The face is cracked, and the hands have stopped turning, but he hasn’t tried to fix it - it got broken the night he was arrested, and serves as a reminder that he must do better.

[acipaer-at-scribare]

@belayadeath   :   💋

perhaps she never had a person ,   just for her .   her mother and father were always absent from most of her life   &   she learned the hard way of her fathers manipulation .   not enough unless she could be used .   perhaps she always knew .   ignored it ,   because she didn’t want to believe it .   rhaenyra was a friend lost .   viserys ,   her king and husband     .  .  .     she cared for him ,   but it was not love .   and her children was a whole another story .   bianca however ,   she was just hers .   one person in the red keep that nobody could manipulate or use against her   &   she is not always sure how to trust her .   how to show she     .  .  .     cares .   not the person to say so ,   hard to show so and perhaps she can be cruel at times   :   even to her .   shut her out in ways she doesn’t deserve .   but now she watch the other woman ,   eyes soft   &   hand cup the side of her face   :   nose brushing against hers as if asking for permission .   a soft moment from a hard woman .   a moment where she doesn’t mind being soft .   simply sink into it for a few minutes .   in the safety of her own chambers where nobody would enter without her say so   &   she leans up ,   a kiss pressed to her lips then ,   soft in nature .    some would even say loving as her thumb brush over her cheek .

[oscarlovesthesea]

fuck you netflix

[deepfriedpaddymayne]

btw, there is something I would like to check with you guys - would you mind if this blog opened up a bit more to other Rusty Quill content? so far I’ve kept it strictly to TMA with the occasional shenanigan by the cast and crew, but I’m almost caught up with Rusty Quill Gaming and have been listening to Stellar Firma and I have a lot of strong feelings that I’d love to share.

I’d still keep it mainly to TMA with the occasional other RQ content, and everything that isn’t TMA would be tagged, but I just thought it would make more sense if I condensed all of my RQ stuff in one place. just let me know how you feel!

[subjunctivehistories]

should I. Abuse the groupchat function and make a history boys gc.

[privateguerin]

hello have a whole block of text that's mostly me shouting at Max, aka 1x07 commentary:

-you know that feeling when you genuinely can't tell if something is a plot hole or will be explained later? That's how I feel about Max's alien symbol tattoo

-also gdi Max what did I say about not using Cam?

-"Liz Ortecho is my hurricane" MAX STOP BEING SO FREAKING EDGY

-"I can't trust the cops or the government" hell yeah fuck the police!!!!!!!!!

-who's gonna point out that an open lab coat and flowy, untied hair is definitely against protocol

-CALL HER OUT ALEX

-more Liz, Alex and Maria content??? We've been blessed!!!!!!!!!!

-Iz's blanket burrito is such a mood

-apparently Michael mocking his siblings for giving him condescending speeches is an actual that happens regularly and I love it

-god Michael has done nothing wrong!! He's literally only ever tried to protect his siblings!!! He deserves some rest!!!!!!

-"you're violating his rights" meh I love Max but he's a straight white man he'll probably get away with it

-"blue lives matter" oh my god someone get this guy to shut up, just pull the freaking plug Cam

-anyway so Wyatt was definitely being mind controlled, that or (and this is a long shot) he is, unknowingly, an alien, and has the same blackouts Iz does

-ALEX don't freaking do THAT to your chips I swear to god

-"you have a secret" "I have already come out to you like, seven times you know" legend

-this whole commentary is just going to be me telling Max to shut the fuck up because yeah, I get it, you're angsty, but you could try, like, not being a dick

-LOW FUCKING BLOW MAX

-the way Michael's face just falls when Max asks "what if it had been Alex Manes", just kill me, right here, right now,

-but also Alex lost his fucking leg in the war, Liz went on to have a successful life, not a good comparison, but we'll take it because more Echo/Malex parallels to feed my soul

-also,,,,, the way Michael says "if you had been the reason Alex went to war, I'd hate you",,,,,,, the emphasis on you? Does he think he is responsible for Alex going to war??? Because jesus

-hey I would like to issue a formal request for "giving Maria a hug"

-MY BOY NOAH IS BACK

-Max, SHUT THE FUCK UP. JUST SHUT IT

-Max I'm mad at you but god I appreciate your reading choices

-Liz you could be,,, handling this better

-me, banging pans together: Michael hasn't done anything! Leave him alone!!!!!

-"I make the decisions about my own life. Cause as it turns out, you two suck at it" I laughed

-oh, is this the incoming Michael and Maria hook up? alright, buckle up, buckaroo

-this is cute. can we just? Let them be friends? Please??

-FOR FUCK'S SAKE, CAM

-also, he literally didn't do anything in this episode but for the sake of tradition: Jesse Manes is a brony. Jesse Manes didn't like Into the Spiderverse. Jesse Manes thinks that the new Star Wars trilogy is unrealistic because women are too emotional to use the force

-to conclude someone let Michael Guerin have a nap

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

“You make me proud, you know that, right?”

Prompt #6 “You make me proud, you know that, right?” requested by @kennaomalley ❤

Jasmine gets burnout from studying as she thought that she could never be as good as her sister and Will comes and helps her out by letting her know that she is enough.

Will entered his youngest’s room. The hospital had sent him home hours earlier and he thought that spending some time with his daughter was a great idea. Ever since both Bianca and Ryder went to college outside the state, he and Nico had more time to work more hours as Jasmine was independent, and she didn’t need a lot of attention or help throughout the week. Still, he wanted to make sure that she wasn’t feeling alienated and that they still cared about her.

“Do you want to go-.” He saw Jasmine reading a textbook, but something about her was a bit off.

“I have to study. I can’t go anywhere.” She replied absentmindedly.

“Is everything all right?”

She closed her book. “I got a D in Calculus.”

“You’ll do better next time. It’s fine. Don’t think about it.” Will tried to make her feel better.

“No, I can’t simply don’t think about it. I don’t have a button that can turn off my feelings.” She snapped. “Sorry, I know you mean well.”

“I know it isn’t easy moving on, but it’s the only way to get better. If you only think about the one grade it’s going to get inside your head.”

“Bianca never got a D in Calculus. My teacher wouldn’t shut up talking about her on the first day. Why couldn’t I be more like Bianca?” She said sadly. Jasmine loved her sister more than anyone else but living with the high expectations she had created was hard. “It isn’t easy having Bianca and Ryder as my siblings.” She confessed.

“What do you mean?”

“Bianca has broken basically every student record in existence, won all the awards and somehow also managed to be class president and lead 4 clubs. And Ryder was the captain of the varsity basketball team for three years! He got in Varsity as a freshman. Who does that? It’s hard growing up in their shadow. I’ll never be confident or smart or popular or extraordinary enough to compete with them. No matter how hard I try. And I’m screwing up everything because I want to be the greatest and the best, but it’s impossible.”

“Jasmine, it’s okay. Relax.”

“I can’t relax that’s the problem. I can’t stop, I can’t pause. There is no room for mistakes or missteps or anything like that. If I stop everything is over. I’ll fail my SATs and Harvard doesn’t want failures. Nobody wants failures!”

“You make me proud, you know that, right?”

“But am I good enough?” She whispered.

“I will never ask you to be Bianca or Ryder. I just want you to be Jasmine. That’s the best version of yourself. And I’m sure you’re meant for great stuff. But cut yourself some slack. You’re overworking and that’s going to do you more harm than good. Okay?”

“Thanks.”

[stark-tony]

underrated irondad and spiderson fic recs part 1

Men's Synch 3m Platform by loudestfandomsoftheworld

summary: or 5 times Peter Parker goes dumpster diving, and one time he does something else... " “You took my nephew dumpster diving?” Ben asked incredulously.

 His wife stood tall with a toddler strapped to her chest, tugging at one end of a couch with all her might. “I did not,” 

“Twash!” Peter yelled."

pairings: none

tags: fluff

warnings: none

do you even remember what the world looks like? by iron_spider

summary: Tony’s heart has been working on overdrive since this whole thing started. Friday has a countdown clock plastered on the heads up display, but it feels like hieroglyphics to him at this point, like some ancient language he could never master.

Because when Peter Parker is missing, things start losing their meaning real quick.

“Should be around here,” Rhodey says on the com. May is still on the other line, listening in, because once a certain amount of time goes by without word from Peter, things move into Extremely Worried Aunt territory. They’re already in Tony Is Panicking territory, and when both of those territories overlap it’s never a good time for anybody.

Time? What the hell is time? His mind is blanking numbers out entirely. Minutes are seconds are hours are years.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort

warnings: none

Empty Casket by Jen27ny

summary: After the Vulture, Tony should have known better.

He should have listened to Peter.

But he didn’t.

And now, Peter is dead.

pairings: none

tags: angst

warnings: none

Patient #2252 by TheSoulOfAStrawberry

summary:  When a warehouse comes down on Spider-Man’s head and leaves him with a brain injury, Queens social worker Bianca Browne and Dr Grace Li of NY-Presbytarian Hospital find themselves racing the NYPD to uncover Spidey’s identity and get him help before he can be charged with a litany of crimes.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort

warnings: police brutality

That's why they call me mr. fahrenheit by SparrowFlight246

summary: Peter’s on fire.

He wakes up fast, and before he even gets the chance to feel the pain, the aches, the dizziness, he feels the heat. It’s all encompassing, a raging inferno blooming from within him and burning him up from the inside out, and god, it—

—god, it hurts.

-

Peter gets whammied by a 24-hour superbug, and Tony’s left to keep him alive until tomorrow morning.

It sounds a hell of a lot easier than it ends up being.

pairings: none

tags: angst, hurt/comfort

warnings: none

not like megatron by iron_spider

summary: “Hi! This is Peter Parker, I can’t get to the phone right now, so leave a message and I’ll call you back later! Hopefully not too much later, but don’t get your hopes up!”

Tony knows that message by heart. He’s heard it hundreds of times, in a greyer world, and it sends shivers down his spine as he climbs into the car.

He doesn’t think about that place. That half-world. No way, that’s done, that’s over, that’s history.“Hey, kid, don’t you know it’s bad etiquette to go and disappear on your birthday? Not allowed, really, really bad vibes from the universe. What’s going on with your suit? I wasn’t watching. Nope. Just got an alert. What’s going on? Uh, call me back.” He clears his throat and hangs up like a moron, driving out into the street.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff

warnings: none

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater by frostysunflowers

summary:  ''Dying.''

''You’re not dying.''

''Totally am.'

'''God, I hope not, otherwise May will skin me alive.''

or

A weekend visit to the cabin doesn't go according to plan.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort, humor

warnings: none

an irondad's misguided approach to homesickness by livingtheobsessedlife

summary: Peter mentions it once. Once. That he’s maybe kinda sorta vaguely somewhat homesick. MIT is no Queens, that’s all really. All in all, Pete’s having a great time at college. Really, truly.

The thing is that Tony’s never really taken the whole ‘only mentioning it once’ thing all that well. Not when it comes to Peter at least.

This time is no exception.

pairings: none

tags: fluff

warnings: none

you held your pride like you should have held me by searchingforstars

summary: “I had to take the risk!” Peter snaps. “I saved your life.”

Tony’s stare hardens. “Yeah, and nearly ended your goddamn own. This isn’t a trade-off. It wasn’t your call to make.”

“You would have done the same thing to protect me,” Peter points out. Tony just seethes at the statement.

“I don’t care about what you think I would have done. You are not me. And I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself."

--

or, as the timer ticked down, Peter knew his only option was to take things into his own hands. He just didn’t expect Tony to be mad at him for saving his life.

pairings: none

tags: angst, hurt/comfort

warnings: none

always on duty by parkrstark

summary:  Peter manages to convince Tony to take him to a gala, but when Tony is hurt, he realizes that it's just as dangerous to be Tony Stark as it is to be Iron Man. 

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff, humor

warnings: none

Out of Left Field by blondsak, seekrest

summary: Even if Tony didn’t end up becoming a big fan of the Mets, Peter knew they’d still have a great time at the game. And the fact that Tony wanted to go with Peter badly enough to make it clear that he should buy a pair of tickets as a birthday gift?

Peter shakes his head fondly.

Maybe for once the month of May was going to work out for him after all.

pairings: spideychelle

tags: fluff, humor

warnings: none

three weeks, two days, seven hours by crowkag

summary: It was a mess. A real mess. Peter had been gone for three weeks, two days, and seven hours, taken right out from under their noses.

And Tony was laying on the floor.

(AKA “you’ll always get there first”, but from Tony’s POV.)

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff

warnings: 

for as long as i live and as long as i love (i will never not think about you) by searchingforstars

summary: When Tony first started to forget things, Peter thought maybe it was just age. People’s memories fade as they get older, right? Minds get weaker. It’s just natural.

But Tony has arguably the sharpest mind of the 21st century. Peter should have realised that it was never going to be just getting weaker. It was never going to be just age.

No - not when the sharpest mind of the 21st century also happened to come into contact with the deadliest amount of gamma radiation known to man five years ago.

--

or, Tony’s sacrifice is still haunting them five years later. Peter has to come to terms with the fact that Tony’s memory is fading.

pairings: none

tags: angst

warnings: none

a dream is a wish by floweryfran

summary: Tony seems to panic for a moment, shifting his weight foot to foot, before spitting out in one mouthful, “I have a business trip in Florida right before your spring break and I talked to May and she says I can bring you to Disney for the week once it’s done ahhh.” He then breathes, grins plastically, and holds his hands out, like, I’m Tony Stark, hold your applause.

Peter runs the words through his head no less than three times to make sure he had understood them properly. “Disney—you and me—spring break?” he repeats.

Tony nods, hair flopping. “I mean, like, don’t feel obligated to say yes, but I thought it would be fun since May says you’ve never gone and she would’ve been working for your whole break anyway, y’know, at least this way we won’t be worrying about you sitting home alone for hours doing G-d only knows what—building accidental robot armies or something, or, worse, becoming a couch potato and forgetting every bit of knowledge I’ve ever carefully placed in that rat trap you call a brain—”

“Tony,” Peter says, waving his hands to shut Tony up. Something warm sits in the core of his chest, hovering. “Yeah,” he says. “Yeah, yeah, for sure, let’s—Disney. Let’s go. Wow.”

pairings: none

tags: fluff

warnings: none

Of birthday cake and millennium falcons by frostysunflowers

summary: "You still haven’t answered my question," MJ says, taking another sip of her juice.

 "Isn’t it obvious?" Tony replies, scratching at one of the scars on his neck with the end of a screwdriver. "It’s Ben’s birthday."

"And Ben’s birthday warrants a…" MJ waves a hand vaguely, "what the hell is that thing anyway?"

or

Tony has no self control when it comes to birthday parties and his grandson.

pairings: spideychelle

tags: fluff

warnings: none

what i have, i give to you by aatticsaltt

summary:  Tony would give everything to Peter Parker, if he asked for it. When May calls telling Tony she thinks Peter isn't feeling well, he drops everything to go check up on his favorite spider kid.

pairings: pepperony

tags: fluff, hurt/comfort

warnings: none

Smile! by aatticsaltt

summary:  Taking Peter to Disney World was one of Tony's better ideas.

pairings: pepperony

tags: fluff

warnings: none

and when it's hard, i'll place your head into my hands by hopeless_hope

summary: “Tony,” Pepper sing-songs to get his attention. “Your mother hen is showing.”

“What?” he snaps indignantly. “I am not a mother hen. This is just... concern. Of the average kind. Perfectly normal.”

“Of course,” Pepper humors him, and he shoots her a dirty look as he types out a quick text to Peter.

or

It's been five days since Tony's heard from Peter, who's away at college, and Tony is not coping well. (Neither is Peter.)

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff

warnings: none

Of Wally-Crawly Harnesses and Over-Enthusiastic Hat-Bestowing Capabilities by TheOceanIsMyInkwell

summary: Tony raises a brow at him in triumph, then sniffs and rubs the side of his nose. “Besides, think of it this way. Now you got a bullet-proof neck.”

“Nobody would even shoot a sad-looking orphan bundled like a spring roll in Red Heart yarn,” Peter points out. “That’s just low.”

“Excuse me, young buck, I resent the implication that I would let Red Heart come within an inch of your skin.”

“You’re insufferable,” Peter says flatly. “I hate you.”

“And just for that, I think this calls for those wool socks I was working on,” Tony says brightly.

“No--no, wait--”

“It’s time to learn that your consequences have actions, Parker--”

“Wait, wait, I love your knitting, I think it’s super healthy and fulfilling and honestly the best thing that’s ever happened to you since you retired!” Peter hollers at the man’s figure as it retreats quickly down the hallway. -- After Peter faints into hibernation because he can't thermoregulate, Tony isn't taking anymore chances. Out come the wool skeins and the knitting needles.

pairings: none

tags: fluff, humor

warnings: none

how do you sandwich!? by killerqueenwrites

summary: “Why are you buttering toast before you toast it?

”“I’m not toasting this.”

“Then what are you doing?” Peter demands.

“I’m making a sandwich.”

pairings: none

tags: fluff, humor

warnings: none

What I Can't Live Without by aatticsaltt

summary: Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Heavy lies the heart of the father who has to watch his son bow beneath the weight of the world.

or: When Peter calls Happy needing a ride out of the Netherlands, it's Tony who comes to the rescue.

pairings: none

tags: angst

warnings: none

Tales from Quarantine by just_a_hungry_author

summary: Peter, Morgan, and Tony are all stuck inside during the Coronavirus quarantine. Morgan learns to play Monopoly, Tony struggles to help with 1st grade math, and a prank war ensues.

God, this is the longest two weeks ever.

pairings: none

tags: fluff, humor

warnings: none

if we have each other by ftmpeter

summary: "Do you ever just, like, feel like you’re upside down?"

"You are upside down, Pete."

"Sounds fake."

pairings: none

tags: fluff

warnings: none

What Happens in the Blanket Fort Stays in the Blanket Fort by TheOceanIsMyInkwell

summary: “Well, I was gonna discuss with May some legal particulars about changes to my will that involve you,” Tony drawls, “but looks like I’ll just have to change my plans.”

There’s a beat. And then a yodel: “I’m just a poor boy, I need--”

“If not for this goddamn quarantine, I’d be there in a flash to shut you up myself, Spidey-Tighties.”

“You made these ‘tights’.”

“Funsie-onesie.”

“Mr. Stark.”

“Cooty-footies.”

“Mr. Stark. I’m begging you. What does that even mean.” -- Tony comes over to keep Peter company during the quarantine while the kid waits for May to come home from work at the hospital. Bants are had. Feelings are spilled. And maybe, just maybe, a hug or two is shared.

pairings: none

tags: fluff, humor

warnings: none

On his Shoulders by snarkymuch

summary: “Please, please,” Tony begged, “Keep breathing, kid. Don’t do this to me. You can’t leave me like this.” The morning started like any other for Tony. He kissed Pepper good morning and sipped his coffee. He scanned his emails and chatted with Pepper about the vacation they were always planning but never took. The calm should have been a warning, as the storm always followed.

OR

Peter and Tony get trapped in a building collapse and Peter is gravely injured.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort

warnings: none

coronapocalypse by peterstank

summary:  “This whole quarantine thing shouldn’t even apply to me.”

“Uh, I beg to differ, it’s very serious,” replies Tony’s voice, slightly muffled like he’s got his phone pressed between his shoulder and chin. “We’re all on lockdown, which means no leaving your place unless it’s for emergencies.”

“And what qualifies as an emergency?”

There’s a pause.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not in your apartment?”

pairings: none

tags: fluff, humor

warnings: none

Little White Lies by snarkymuch

summary:  Peter gets injured and tries to treat it himself, hiding it from Tony, but he can't keep it hidden forever.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort

warnings: none

Peter Parker and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Semester by just_a_hungry_author

summary: "So tell me, Kid." Tony said, patting the space next to him. "What's been going on?"

"Nothing's been going on." Peter denied, but he sat down anyway.

"Pete, don't bottle your emotions up. Only I'm allowed to do that."

When Peter again didn't smile at his joke, Tony continued. "I know you're stressed, Bud. But tell me why so I can help you."

"It's nothing you can help." Peter mumbled.

"Can I at least try?"

"I've just been having a bad week."

OR: Peter’s been having a rough time at college, Tony tries to jump in and help. 3000 words of pure fluff.

pairings: none

tags: fluff

warnings: none

Windy Webs by silentsaebyeok

summary:  And that was it. He was officially an idiot. Peter didn’t mean to be dramatic, but this was one of the most embarrassing things to ever happen to him, even if there was no one around to witness the fall of the century. -- Peter goes web-slinging in dangerous weather and gets seriously injured. It doesn't help that he has to spend the whole summer living with the consequences.

pairings: none

tags: hurt/comfort

warnings: none

Peter gets the chickenpox by snarkymuch

summary:  Peter and Morgan both catch the chickenpox. Morgan's case is mild, but Peter's is severe. Tony takes care of them both.

pairings:  none

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff

warnings: none

[barbaracleboy]

So, because I’ve been seeing a few different takes and opinions on Vi’s relationship with The Hive, I thought that maybe I could give my take on it too, because why not? Please keep in mind that I’m a little stupid, and I tend to not dig deep when analyzing things: I like watching or reading in-depth analyses, but I tend to think about stories or gameplay mechanics largely on what I can see, and I don’t think that hard about the complexities or realities or whatever of most things. So forgive me if many of my points are obvious, or if some of what I say isn’t that well-thought out or anything like that. Also, as always, I have absolutely zero intention to insult anybody or tell them they’re viewing the game wrong: we all view things differently, and I thought it’d be nice if I talk a little about how I viewed Vi’s story, if for no other reason than to just explain why I say or draw or do what I do. With that in-mind, hopefully my analysis isn’t too simple or whatever…

Vi didn’t like The Hive, we know this. The reasons she gives, if I remember, are mainly that nobody believed in her dreams of being an explorer (and many made fun of her for it). With this “analysis” I wish to get into why I felt the Bees didn’t believe in Vi and why Vi said what she did.

To start off, the fact that The Hive discouraged Vi’s exploring, and the behavior of The Hive in a couple other ways, seems to be based on IRL beehives, and how Bees in general aren’t aggressive. As such, it could make sense that they didn't approve of the idea of one of their own going out to go exploring, potentially looking for trouble and getting themselves hurt. A more unique, in-universe reason also exists: Snakemouth Den. Now, while Snakemouth Den has also been known to be scary to the Ants, they had a reason not to discourage exploration: it held an artifact that the Ant Queen wanted. The Bees clearly didn’t care as much about the Sapling or anything that can help them obtain it (considering they used an artifact to make their factory and didn’t even know it), so when they heard of their kind going to Snakemouth Den and never coming back, their reaction was likely something like “Holy shit, stay away from that place and any place like it.” They didn’t want treasures or immortality (at least most of them didn’t), and if trying to get it meant death they’d rather stay away from it. Speaking of Queens, Bianca probably also plays a hand in why the Bees were so against Vi becoming an explorer. By Vi’s own admission Bianca is a pacifist, and that coupled with Bianca (trying to) treat her subjects more like her children than most Queens seem to points to the idea that she feels her little babees would be safer and happier at home than exploring. This care for safety can be seen as soon as and even before you enter The Hive: there’s a little room to scan for anything that could potentially be harmful to The Hive, and you can’t even enter without having a guard start the elevator for you. They clearly want danger as far away from them as possible. “Why does Bianca have a military if she’s a pacifist and cares for her kids’ safety, then?”  Honestly, that’s a good question, and the best answer I have is that it’d be stupid not to have a defense force, especially in the Lost Sands (which are home to all sorts of Bandits and monsters) and with the close proximity to with The Wasps (who are known to usually be aggressive, and have particularly been so since some time before the start of the game). That’s not even getting into Vi being a teenager, which would probably further discourage The Hive from supporting her wanting to be an explorer: you should support the dreams of young people, but there’s a difference between a kid, I don’t know, wanting to be an engineer and wanting to be a bounty hunter. One is notably more dangerous (and probably less common) than the other, and while stomping on a kid’s dream is mean it’s perhaps better, in some scenarios, than encouraging them to do something that can get them killed. Hell, a large part of why Vi became as successful an explorer as she did was that she had a team to help her out, and she initially didn’t seem to want that. A young girl, in a society that cares a ton about being safe, trying to go off and fight monsters and bad guys on her own (probably just in the hopes of getting rich)? It’s no wonder her peers wouldn’t support that.

All that said, do I think Bees were justified in denying Vi her dream? That she should have just shut up and sucked it up? No, of course not. They clearly cared too much about safety, to the point that they let one of their own leave anyway due to her feeling so out of place for thinking differently. There was clearly a lack of empathy for her, and I highly doubt that their responses to Vi were all variations of “Now, now, don’t hurt yourself!”, there probably was a lot of teasing and even some bullying. Now, I don’t think Vi is invalid or wrong for leaving or being upset...but I also feel like she may not be too reliable a “Narrator”. 

That’s not to say she was lying, that she never experienced anything bad in The Hive...but to be frank, she is a [bit of a stupid d:] teenager. She’s a little selfish, she’s a little reckless, and she probably said and did a lot of what she said and did due to big teen emotions. She talked about Bees like they were all bullies, and pompous, but does The Hive really give that impression? Do the Bees? When she returns almost none of them seem to bring up anything bad, they don’t seem to be making fun of her, there doesn’t seem to be any animosity towards her from them, despite how bad she tended to speak of them. “Well, Vi probably didn’t know a lot of them, and vice versa.” That could very well be true, but most of the ones we see in-game seem to have experience with Vi: even ignoring all the ones that have a notable amount of screen time or mandatory dialogue, Vi seems to know multiple of them by name, and many of them know Vi’s name too, and if she’s been gone so long you’d think one would have forgotten the other unless they had spent a non-insignificant time together. She seems to have formed relationships with multiple bees, and while few if any of them were as close as the one she formed with Jaune they probably existed, it’s not like she got along with nobody but Jaune. The point I’m trying to make by talking about relationships is that you’d think there would be multiple Jaune-type situations, of Vi being very mad at one of the bees and vice versa, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Vi’s anger is mostly general, she mostly talks crap about The Hive as a whole, while few if any of the bees seem to hold a grudge against her. This leads me to think that Vi makes a big deal about all the other bees bullying her out of hyperbole, and her emotions making her think the situation’s worse than it is: I mean, she claims that all bees are pompous, but really only Beette fits that description, right? And even Beette is noted to not be that bad, for selling you the key to the house of whatever (though personally I feel she still seemed pretty rude, but eh). Vi is very upset, to the point that she says things that aren’t entirely true and kind of throw multiple people under the bus (I know that type of anger, let me fuckin’ tell you). This anger, of course, comes because she was so close to Jaune, and enjoyed time with her more than any other Bee. I assume Vi was hoping Jaune would support that dream more than the other bees would, but when she didn’t Vi was really hurt, and in her anger she said bad things to everybody in The Hive and left. She probably wasn’t thinking about what she was saying or how leaving would affect her or whatever, she was just having angry teenage angst and she wanted out (having said that, you could totally make the argument that Jaune was a jerk for being so upset about a little insult, but again, eh). I feel like Vi might have even felt she was being irrational, at least deep down, but what she was feeling at the time of her leaving took priority. When Kabbu falls through the trapdoor in Snakemouth, Vi says something along the lines of “This is the perfect time to go home.” It’s probably a throwaway line, maybe I’m overthinking things for once, but what if that was her going “Okay, I know I said all that stuff but things are really bad now and I just wanna go home.” I can believe that, when I was young I said and tried to do some stupid things, but it didn’t take long before I decided to at least try to calm down, do something less intense maybe. I can believe that a kid like Vi would try something crazy in order to stick it to everyone who said she couldn’t, but would perhaps think twice upon seeing the dangers. Vi and Kabbu had barely spent any time in Snakemouth before he fell, so I imagine that when Vi saw there was some actual danger in exploring she at least briefly thought about how she behaved, thought that she might have been letting her emotions get the best of her, and considered going home where she probably was safe. Even if she didn’t intend go all the way back to The Hive, the point is that what she said and did when leaving could very well have been her just acting out in frustration. In the end it’s for the best that she continued with exploring (for a wide variety of reasons), but my point is that her initial push to do so came largely from that initial bout of frustration.

So, to make a long story short, I feel that The Hive cared very heavily about safety, for many reasons, and as such wished for Vi to not be an explorer for her own good. Things were not that bad for Vi, but when much of her society, including her closest sister, didn’t approve of what she wanted she threw somewhat of a fit and ran off, perhaps feeling that she was overreacting a little but being too young and headstrong to not do exactly what she wanted to do. Once again, my point here is not that The Hive was right, Vi was wrong. It’s more that the situation was complicated and bad, and both Vi and her peers had a lot to learn (which, in my opinion, they mostly did learn by the end of the main story). 

I don’t know, I think a big part of why I go to bat for The Hive so much is that I very, very much value family. It’s kind of how I was raised, I feel that the people that share your blood, that likely live with you and likely care for you and likely know about you way more than most other people are special, and that the relationships with them are also special, so it’s best to try and keep things as good with them as possible. I’m not saying that you should be a slave to people, or you should take abuse from people, or that you should support bad behavior, all because those involved are related to you. I just feel that it’s important to try and understand the feelings of those you’re close to, and that (when fair and applicable) we should always try to have the best possible relationship with our family. Vi initially failed with both of these, and so did Jaune and many of the other bees.

To go on a little tangent, I think the family stuff is a big part of why I love The Hive as much as I do. With how many of the Bees seem to know each other (compared to the Ants, where there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of interactions implied or otherwise), how Bianca views The Bees as her children, and how Vi’s formed a close relationship with one of her many, many sisters, The Hive just seems to be a family much more than any other kingdom: this is in both good ways like Bees being closer, and less than good ways like having unfortunate situations (failures to communicate, misunderstandings, and feelings of being ignored or unsupported) like many families do. I think I like all that a lot due to my aforementioned value of family stuff, and one can even give lore-y reasons for it being neat. Like, real life bug colonies don’t really do family stuff, right? They just work to care for the colony, that’s it. That The Hive holds much more in the way close bonds could be a sign of the change from crystals continuing, and having more effects than immediately obvious: not only are bugs losing limbs but living longer, they’re gaining their own wants, and they’re former closer bonds to each other than “This is my fellow worker, we both will make the honey.” I just find that sweet, I think, and with what’s shown of Vi and how she interacts with The Hive in-game I think it tells a sweet story of a girl feeling separated from her home and family but learning that things weren’t that bad, repairing bridges that could have stayed burnt, and probably bringing about changes that will make the people there happier. Bianca mentions how “We have heard of [Vi’s] exploits”, and how “the outside world did [her] some good”: from the sounds of it multiple Bees were proud of Vi for her success as an explorer, and one can imagine that leading to more explorers coming from The Hive, as well as the Bees learning to support unique ideas more. For as sad as the situation with Vi and The Hive was, it seems to have with her learning to like her old home again and it will likely lead to it getting even better than it was before.

Hoo, that was a whole lot of talking and I can’t help but fear that a lot of it is either rambly, repetitive, or illogical...but, uh, if you read all the way through it then thank you so much! I appreciate it, and I hope it wasn’t too difficult to read. I bet there’s all sorts of stuff we don’t know that could be for or against my reading: for all we know Bianca kept Vi in a cupboard back when she lived in The Hive, for all we know Vi set multiple Bees on fire on purpose. But, based on what we do know, that’s how I feel about the situation. Once more, I do not intend to insult anybody that thinks differently from me or anything (tbh I get the impression a lot of people may think different from me, ha): I just prefer funnier and happier stuff (as I feel I’ve said many times before), and I just felt like showing why I viewed the deal with Vi and The Hive to be a sad one, but one rife with misunderstanding (amongst the bugs involved at least) and one that ended quite positively. If you disagree that’s perfectly fine, I just hope I explained myself in a way that makes sense and isn’t like, stupidly simple or ignorant or whatever. Even if it is, I apologize. I just think the Bees are all cute and I like to think that they’re happy, ha.

[rotomgender-moved]

Under the cut is the first part/chapter of it

Title: Runs in our Family

Word Count: roughly 1.5-2k I'd say

TWs: Near panic attacks, mild dehumanization of self, general ask to tag

Part One

The constant click of timers and bubbling of boiling water is what grounded them, eyes flickering about the room to watch over everything he had to. The rhythmic sound of a knife cutting through vegetables was like music to his ears, a hum rumbling through their chest added to the harmony of the kitchen. It made him feel in control, because he was. Guided merely by his memory of the recipe. Even then, he can tweek and test and try new things. It allowed them to have control over its life. It allowed it  to feel safe, even when working with fire and knives and pots and pans searing red with heat.

"N, my golden friend," His Zoroark companion began from their resting position. "The noodles, you need to put them in the water." N froze for a moment, startled by the sudden reminder.

"Ah! Yes, you're right. What could I do without you, Illusion." It chuckled as its own forgetfulness, scooping the fresh noodles in careful hands and putting them into the water carefully. Setting the egg timer for a minute and a half before continuing the final preparations on the vegetables. Picking them in his hands and putting them into the sauce in a few scoops. 

"You are becoming a good chef, my golden friend, but you mustn't lose yourself in your head while working with fire."

"Yes, Illusion, I am very aware. I'm working on it, I promise."

"I pray to Arceus you learn before you lose a paw."

"Hand, before I lose a hand."

"You get the picture."

Truly, N thought as he nodded to Zoroark. What could I do without you.

N let out a breath of air, turning off the fire in the stone as the timer goes off. Waiting quietly for the sauce to finish cooking. Reminding himself to take a few tablespoons of sugar and sprinkle it into the sauce, making it just that much sweeter. Waiting just for a few more moments, they have to. Reward cannot be reaped without patience, he thought, he must have patience.

To fill his time, he spread his hands up in the air in a Y shape, spinning around and humming. Fully content before he felt a sharp pain in his hand, followed by the loud BANG of the hanging pans hitting each other. N flinched, covering his ears and letting out a whine. A shiver rocked his body, but just before they could feel any tears begin to brim. A hand was placed onto his back, or a paw, moreso.

"It is alright," The voice of his pokemon cooed. "It is only cooking utensils, nothing more. Now, why don't you plate your dinner and watch some of your shows?" 

They continued to nod a little, thanking the illusionist with a scratch on the chin. Which, from the aura of joy it received from Zoroark, was greatly appreciated. N turned on their heel and scooped the noodles onto a plate he already had set aside before pouring a ladle or two of sauce onto it. N had promised Mallow a few days before that he would save some extra sauce for her to use in one of her dishes. Whatever concoction she may come up with, and however much it made the trio of chefs-turned-gym-leaders angry, he was excited to see it. 

As he settled down at his little table in his little kitchen, he smiled a tad. It had taken well a while for him to grow accustomed, or even willing, to live in a home. His first actions at coming to this strange new region had been to find an escape in the woods with his pokemon companions and live off nature for a month and a half. Which apparently, from what they deciphered from the angry ranting of a disgruntled Hugh and the chaotic explanation of a worried Alder. Had left his fellow Unovans with a wild goose chase to find him, having only been discovered by an odd group of children with accents he didn't quite recognize mistaking him for a new wild pokemon, thusly getting hit with a thunder wave that left him in the Pokemon Centers human unit for a little longer then N would prefer to admit.

Once they had been captured and as Nate and Rosa dubbed it, "Secured, Contained and Protected", they were subjected to an explanation that pulling an out-of-pocket disappearing act after the multiple both he, Hilbert and Hilda pulled off, wasn't the best idea. Which he understood! But it wasn't out-of-pocket. They should have expected it to run off into the woods and allowed it to. Or at least explained to those paralysis-happy children to watch out for an uncanny woodland dweller with a Zororak.

Even then, once they were captured, it was surely difficult for them to adjust. They were a pokemon, weren't they? A beast, that's what he'd always been told. No human would be able to speak with creatures that aren't fellow humans. But isn't it the same with Pokemon? So are these pokemon more human than beast, or is he more beast than human? Was it the years of isolation that made it hard to settle in an actual home all by itself, or was it the longing to run free with beasts like him?

N didn't like sitting in that question, so as it always did, it shoved it back into a deep corner of their mind and locked it in a little box with all those other heavy questions. All of the concerns and the old ideologies he forcibly shoves away and represses. It was all he could do, if he wasn't a beast or human. Then who could he be helped by?

Well, it didn't matter. It hadn't even noticed it had finished its plate of early dinner during his lamenting. Having been lazily twirling the fork in nothing for a good few moments to minutes. 

"N, my golden child," Zororak began. "Why don't you tuck me away and go speak to other people. You haven't left this little ranch-house in a few days; it will do you some good." They commented, nudging N's back. The soft clacks of things such as potions, a tube for those "PokeBlocks" that a pair of twins had been gifting to everyone on the island, and pokeballs.

"That… Does sound like a good idea." N agreed quietly, fully coming out of their thoughts. "Yeah." They got up off their seat and washed the plate and other utensils he had used swiftly, before shrugging their jacket back on and stringing their hair into a ponytatail once more. If Zororak thought it was a good idea, then N might as well be convinced. This pokemon had single-paw-dedly helped raise him from infancy to now. Always having found its way back to him. N thought of it as a mother and as they say. Mother knows best.

As he exited his home and was met by warm sunshine, he suddenly remembered why they had been so intrigued by the woods and all its inhabitants for oh-so-long. Or well, the week they had been there before they were hospitalized by four sneaky, pokemon hunting children. They couldn't be mad, though. They were apparently uncanny looking, Hilbert having described him as "a bit to long and a little too fluffy, with speech so fast he might as well just be making noises."  

But N didn't mind, it simply thought itself as far more built for the wild than the others. But… Thinking about it, that could be the reason why everyone though that of him. As N walked, staring down at the grass in thought. He felt his shoulder bump someone running by.

"Watch it, tall-ass!" A quite foulmouthed voice sounded, making N's eyes flicker to the redhead who was already making a getaway.

"Language!" They simply called back, rolling their eyes, hearing a distant "shut up!" as they made distance with the redhead. "Rude child." He decided, looking up to glance around the circle of homes that they had all settled in during this odd meet up. In a region that nobody seemed to have heard of, at that. It felt weird, it was weird. Why did any of them trust it?

Well, it should speak for itself. It went along, even if dragged on by his group of siblings-by-spirit. Chattering away that if they were all going, he was coming along. That they had already packed everything for him, and that if he refused they'd just sleep powder him and take him along anyway-

Why did I not run off? They thought, realizing the slight horror of that situation. Those kids were needlessly pushy in trying to get N to talk to new people. Dragging him about the cruiser they were in with all the other guests. Introducing him to some of the other kids that Nate and Hugh had already dragged into their mischief.

What were those kids names? Barry and Sapphire, he believes. Sapphire was that young lady who's brother had given him the tube of pokemon candies, if he remembers. Barry was a talkative young boy who seemed to immediately jump ship to play along with Nate and Hugh's pranks. He also remembers a handful of other faces, a married couple he vaugly remembers seeing on a few news casts back in Unova, Red and Green were their names. Along with another lady he didn't recognize, who took quickly to chatting along with Hilbert and Hilda. Rosa had been coaxing a green haired boy out of his shell with who he thinks was Sapphire's brother. 

He remembers a few other faces. A circle of kids all taking part in pokemon trading under Lance's watch. Bianca and Cheren, listening to a young boy, chitter away about his brother. Two boys nearly tearing at eachother, and not in a pokemon battle, while their supposed companions either encouraged it or tried to seperate them. One of them was that redhead who had swore at them, he thinks. 

But most importantly, he met Mallow and Guzma on that ship. The only two he confidently remembers the names and faces of. Mallow was a sweet woman, a trial captain. She had seen his shivery, nervous nature and pulled him aside from the crowd. He had listened to her talk about cooking and asked a few questions himself. Which is where that interest began. Guzma was… well he can only say he was Guzma. Rough around the edges yet smooth in the soul type, who had introduced him to N's first new species of pokemon in a while. A very, very polite and well mannered Gollisapod. He could sense even before listening to the pokemon that it was well cared for. 

It further made their heart pull, obviously the pokemon was battle-scarred. One or two chips on its shell that were healing overtime. But still so… Happy. Pokemon Battles weren't that bad, he knew that. But the confirmation that it was all okay was still nice.

"Hey, you!" A voice snapped him from his thoughts, making him turn. "Yeah, you! Take a few steps back. You almost walked yourself off a cliff." 

"Oh- why thank you! I didn't even notice."

"Obviously you didn't," He snorted a little. "You're that N guy that Rosa was telling me about! I'm Ruby, I was out trying to see some new pokemon. But all I caught was you almost about to take a trip off a cliff." Ruby rolled his eyes.

"Well, I was lost in thought. Thank you again for catching me, Ruby. Though I'm sure I would've survived a fall into some sand." N shrugged, examining Ruby as the boy nodded over his shoulder.

"Well… Maybe as a thank you, you could come to the community house where all of us trainers are. Rosa said you had some pretty cool Pokemon that you never let anyone touch the PokeBalls of. It's gotten the group talking." Ruby smiled, eyes crinkling. N paused in thought, feeling the pokeball in his hand he recognized as Zororaks. It wanted them to talk to other people… So they might as well. Even if the idea of presenting their pokemon to people they didn't know made their stomach twist. 

"... Okay, alright. I will. Lead the way, Ruby."